Kent State’s Faculty Appreciation Week is April 13-17

IMAGE: enter photo description Kent State University will honor its faculty members witha week of celebration themed “You Inspire Us!” from April 13-17.

Kent State University will honor its faculty members with a week of celebration themed “You Inspire Us!” from April 13-17. Faculty Appreciation Week is coordinated by the Office of the Provost and recognizes the contributions and impact that faculty members have on the university and student success.

“It gives me particular pleasure to recognize the great work and dedication of our faculty colleagues,” says Todd Diacon, Kent State’s senior vice president and provost. “Faculty Appreciation Week is but a small token of our appreciation for all that you do, and I hope you will join me, and most importantly your colleagues, as we celebrate all that you do for Kent State University.”

The week of celebration begins with a faculty appreciation breakfast event on Monday, April 13, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. To confirm your attendance at the breakfast event, visit www.kent.edu/facultyweek.

On Tuesday, April 14, the Faculty Author and Outstanding Researcher Recognition will take place at 4 p.m. in the University Library on the Kent Campus. A promotion and tenure dinner, by invitation only, will take place Wednesday, April 15, at the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center in downtown Kent.

The celebration will continue on Thursday, April 16, with a Faculty Club Fun and Frolic at 5 p.m. at the Schwebel Dining Room in the Kent Student Center. The week of celebration concludes on Friday, April 17, with the Kent State Center for Teaching and Learning Faculty Fellows’ presentation at 11:30 a.m. in Moulton Hall Ballroom.

National Alcohol Screening Day at Kent State is April 9

IMAGE: enter photo description National Alcohol Screening Day returns to Kent StateUniversity with an anonymous screening for alcohol-usedisorders on April 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the secondfloor of the Kent Student Center.

National Alcohol Screening Day returns to Kent State University for its 15th year. National Alcohol Screening Day is a promotional outreach effort to reduce and prevent at-risk drinking by providing anonymous screening for alcohol-use disorders. The event, which is free and open to the public, takes place April 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second floor of the Kent Student Center.

“National Alcohol Screening Day is an excellent way to educate the Kent State University community about alcohol-use disorders and related health issues,” says Scott Dotterer, coordinator of Kent State’s Office of Health Promotion.

Free and anonymous screening is open to all students, faculty, staff and community members.

“It’s important to note that these screenings are conducted anonymously and are informational, not diagnostic,” Dotterer says.

The screening form, based on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, asks participants about their drinking habits and if their behaviors have changed due to their drinking.

The screening process takes approximately 20 minutes. Once the screening is completed and the form is scored, participants will have the opportunity to discuss the results with Kent State mental health professionals and graduate students in the counseling program.

“The entire screening process moves quickly,” Dotterer says. “It definitely creates a greater sense of awareness on the importance of making healthy and safe choices when it comes to alcohol.”

Free food and beverages will be available for participants. In addition, event participants will receive a resource bag of educational materials on alcohol-related issues and concerns.

Moderate and Non-drinkers

Light and moderate drinkers and even people who do not drink can still benefit from the screening process.

“In past years, we’ve had some participants indicate on the screening form that they don’t drink,” Dotterer says. “Yet it was still a positive experience for them because they were able to discuss with a mental health screener other concerns such as what to do if a friend consumes too much alcohol or how to respond if a friend wants help.

“Even if you seldom drink or don’t consume alcohol at all, the experience of completing the screening process still gives participants the opportunity to become more aware of the psychological referral sources on campus and in the community,” Dotterer adds.Extra Credit Opportunities

National Alcohol Screening Day is an excellent way to educate students on this high-priority college issue. Proof of attendance will be provided for faculty who want to offer students extra credit for attending the event. Contact Dotterer at sdottere@kent.edu or 330-672-8266 to confirm that you are offering extra credit for a specific class. Students in your class who participate in the screening will be asked to sign an attendance sheet that will be mailed to you the next day.

National Alcohol Screening Day is co-sponsored by University Health Services, Counseling and Human Development Services, Public Health Student Alliance, Body Acceptance Movement and Health Education Program Planning Class.

To learn more about the services offered by University Health Services, visit www.kent.edu/UHS.

Kent State Hosts Out of the Darkness Campus Walk for Suicide Awareness

IMAGE: enter photo description Participants gather for the Out of the Darkness CampusWalk that took place last year to raise funds for theAmerican Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This year,the walk will take place April 18 from 4-6 p.m, beginningat the Risman Plaza/Student Green area on the KentCampus.

Kent State University will host the Out of the Darkness Campus Walk to raise funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) on April 18 from 4-6 p.m. This signature fundraising campaign is designed to engage young people in the foundation’s mission and programs with 3- to 5-mile walks each spring at colleges and high schools across the country.

When you walk in the Out of the Darkness Campus Walks, you join the effort with thousands of people to raise funds and awareness for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s vision to create a world without suicide. AFSP is the leader in the fight against suicide. It funds research, creates educational programs, advocates for public policy and supports survivors of suicide loss. Kent State faculty, staff and students are encouraged to join and help raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, every year, suicide claims more lives than war, murder and natural disasters combined. A suicide occurs every 12.9 minutes, and an attempt is made every minute of every day, resulting in nearly one million attempts annually. Moreover, suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students and the third for individuals ages 15-24. In Ohio, suicide claimed the lives of 41,149 individuals in 2013. Suicide is the only cause in the top 10 causes of death in the U.S. where the numbers are continuing to increase.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention invites members of the Kent State community to create a team or join an existing team and walk with them. Check in at the Risman Plaza/Student Green on the Kent Campus between 3 and 4 p.m. If you cannot join the walk, please consider making a donation.

Kent State’s Office of Global Education Introduces “Friendship Families” Program for International Students

IMAGE: enter photo description Kent State University's Office of Global Education isintroducing the Friendship Family Program to helpinternational students and local families build relationshipsand share culture in a unique and fulfilling way.

Kent State University is proud to serve nearly 2,800 international students coming from a myriad of countries. Many of these students come to the United States hoping to engage in local cultural activities and make connections with individuals from the region.

Kent State’s International Student and Scholar Services office offers programming such as day excursions to Cleveland Cavaliers games, ski and snowboard resorts, museums and cities, such as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia; however, to support international students’ transition into the United States, a connection with the local community in the form of a “friendship family” could be a key component in adjusting to culture shock.

More often than not, international students arrive to the United States alone and without family members or friends in the area to assist the transition into their new surroundings. In this difficult situation, support from the Kent community is the best service we can offer to international students.

The Friendship Family program is designed for international students and families to build relationships and share culture in a unique and fulfilling way. Ideally, friendship families are people living in Kent who desire to provide international students with a welcoming environment, inviting their matched international student to informal dinners, holiday celebrations, occasional family outings or any other activities that will enrich the student’s understanding of U.S. culture. Additionally, students are encouraged to invite their friendship family to Kent State campus events. It is important to note that this is not a host family arrangement but simply a connection between a family and international student.

Kent State wants its international students to feel welcomed and at home, both on campus and in the local community. This program will support students’ needs and allow them to immerse themselves in U.S. culture. Similarly, families in the Kent community have the unique opportunity to learn about another culture from their newly “adopted” international student. All individuals involved in this learning experience will engage in intercultural communication, awareness and understanding. Ideally, participating in this program will foster personal growth for all members involved.

Main Street Kent Coordinates Clean Up Kent Day

IMAGE: enter photo description Clean Up Kent Day, coordinated by MainStreet Kent, will take place on Saturday, April 4, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Main Street Kent is coordinating a Clean Up Kent Day on Saturday, April 4, from 9 a.m. to noon. All are encouraged to pitch in during this first official clean-up day of the year. Members of service organizations, scouts, businesses, fraternities, sororities and anyone else who is interested in sprucing up downtown Kent that day is invited to join. You can join the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/387062694806641/.

Main Street Kent will set up a table at the Hometown Bank Plaza with supplies to share: trash bags, rubber gloves, dustpans, buckets, brooms, etc., and will have a map of the downtown area on hand so participants can choose an area in which to work. Feel free to bring work gloves, hand brooms or other supplies as well. There is no need to “sign up” for this clean-up day; rather people are encouraged to come lend a hand.